Resident
Extirpated?

Conservation Status
Vermont SU, SGCN
Global G5

North American Range
In the west, from Alaska and the McKenzie River delta south to southeastern Manitoba; south through the western mountains to southern California, southern Arizona, and southeast New Mexico. In the east, northern New England west to Wisconsin; south in the Appalachians to Virginia.

 

Identification

Upperside is brown-black. Forewing has few clear dots and very dim markings; patch at end of cell is grayish. Male forewing has many raised white hairs. Hindwing fringes are dark. Male has a costal fold containing yellow scent scales; female has a patch of scent scales on the 7th abdominal segment. The Columbine, Wild Indigo, and Persius dusky wings belong to the “Persius complex,” a confusing group of very similar butterflies.

Flight

Unknown for Vermont. One brood in eastern range flying from May to early June.

Distribution and Habitat

One record known from Vermont in 1983 (exact date unknown) from Bennington County by P. Opler (Grehan et al. 1995). This species has apparently undergone a drastic range contraction recently throughout the Northeast. In New England it is currently only known from about a dozen locations in CT, MA, and NH. Host plant in Northeast is Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria).

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